THE HEZITORIAL: Yonkers City Councilman Christopher Johnson a Bully Totally Out of Control By HEZI ARIS

YONKERS, NY -- November 17, 2012 -- Allegations of abuse in the workplace were lodged against Yonkers City Councilman Christopher Johnson (D-1^st District) as reported in the Yonkers Tribune on September 6, 2012; reference THE HEZITORIAL: NYS Assembly Speaker Silver Must Be Dismissed By HEZI ARIS. 

The complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) by former Yonkers City Council Aide Nicole Benjamin against her employer who berated and demeaned her before her colleagues. Ms Benjamin had in September contended she was "forced to work under hostile conditions and bullied” by Councilman Johnson.

Yonkers Tribune /The Westchester Guardian have since that time learned of an incident with a male friend that degenerated into a verbal contest where the maniacal rants of the insecure Councilman Johnson was revealed.

The latest contemptible outbreak by Councilman Johnson took place on Wednesday evening, November 14, 2012, at the Hudson River Community Association (HRCA) meeting at which developer Ron Shemesh gave a presentation of his basic concepts for the adaptive re-use concepts he envisions for the Glenwood Power Station and the adjacent Trevor Park grounds.

Councilman Johnson had former Aide Nicole Benjamin’s successor, Aide Keisha Skipper represent him at the Public Hearing conducted in the august Yonkers City Council Chambers at the Planning Board Meeting at which many HRCA members, a formidable neighborhood association, spoke to the development project divulged publicly by Mr Shemesh’s representatives at the Planning Board Meeting. Keisha Skipper dutifully attended to taking notes and diligently and efficiently completed her task. Yonkers City Democratic Party Chair Symra Brandon was also at the Yonkers Planning Board Meeting. She was overheard making a telephone call to Mr Johnson to advise him to get to that meeting as over 100 people were in attendance. His response to Ms Brandon was not heard.

When many HRCA members departed the Yonkers City Council Chambers to attend Mr Shemesh’s presentation at the Nepperhan Community Center (NCC), including this reporter, I noticed Mr Johnson in attendance. So was his aide, Ms Skipper.

Mr Shemesh’s presentation eventually concluded the discourse and interchange; the HRCA meeting was formally concluded. Refreshments and chili and Doritos accompanied the continuing discussions among those attending before they would depart for destinations unknown..

Ten minutes before I was to depart, I saw Mr Johnson turn to look beyond me toward his Aide Keisha Johnson with a look that could “kill”.  He had been noticed to have brought his hand to her face in a menacing manner; he berated her in front of some in attendance; and had eventually departed before having degraded himself and before having bullied yet another Aide in public. He lost his cool over her reminding him that he best get a birthday gift for his girlfriend. He didn’t want to be reminded and lashed out against Ms Skipper.

His conduct has been over the top with three people this reporter is familiar. He needs help with anger management issues. His abusive interactions with an all female staff at the Yonkers City Council Chambers is demeaning, frightening, and alien to them and all onlookers who find his conduct unbecoming, unacceptable, and intolerable. His behavior cannot be overlooked or appeased by apologies. He needs help.  His conduct is totally out of step on how men may treat women in a professional setting requiring civil conduct. Mr Johnson’s behavior is not acceptable. No one will stand by his side to condone his misbehavior.

What is most appalling is that there are many people who are familiar with Mr Johnson’s issues yet they have not been colleague or friend to him for not putting their foot down on his outrageous conduct. 

The culture that has been permitted to thrive because of Mr Johnson's behavior not being stopped by peers who should have admonished him long ago, should it not cease and desist, must be investigated by the Yonkers Inspector General before the City of Yonkers finds itself litigiously entangled over his barbaric and unseemly conduct.

 

Comments

[REREUN]

LEAVE RERUN ALONE LMAO

[anon]

YONKERS IS ELECTING GARBAGE

[3 generation Working Class]

So is the rest of the country by reelecting Obama. Just wait till next year when another fifty bucks a week comes out of paycheck to pay for these welfare bums.

[You're stuck with him]

No point in complaining, people, you're stuck with him. Andrea's he-bitch is being groomed for bigger (no pun intended) and better things (can you say City Council President). Haven't you noticed that Spano has him speak at just about every event?

[ronald regan jr]

This guy is no bully, he has no idea what he is doing!
He is a clown and probably another puppet to another politician.

No politician in Yonkers is capable of running themselves, can you imagine they are accountable for the future of yonkers?

Yonkers must not find electable candidates, but candidates that will fullfill the oath of office with the people of yonkers first.

Find another garbage pail to run in this area of yonkers since it is moveable chairs

[old to the games]

This elected official is the same guy who wanted the City at a cost of 750k per year to pick up garbage and cost the police and fire dept men and did not care!

Get rid of this puppet and if not mistaken he is Stewart Counsins Asst.

[anon]

He has been a bully in council sessions as well, allthough it did not go as well when he tried to bully Larkin. Chris johnson is a piece of political garbage. He is the Scarf's bitch. Anyone of either party who has that kind of support is suspect; who do they really represent, their district or their handler?

I do not see him getting enough votes for President; The East Side will laugh at him.

Hezi what is really needed are some iphone vids of him blowing up and being abusive. That will be the end.

[Get rid of all of them]

He may be a bully but Larkin is worse! Larkin tries to push everyone around. He is a dictator.

[rerun]

I heard he was screaming "what U talkin bout Wilis?"

[DemsRDangerous]

Actually he was screaming..."hey, hey, hey Rodge." But the question we need to ask ourselves is "Why do democratic men politicians wage war on women?"

[lmao1929]

One more example of where YO is headed...look at its elected officials. Anyone realize how unsettling it is to have these bunch of clowns running the city. A terrible road YO is headed on! But, YO is not alone. So, I guess dumbing down is a thing of the future...

[malea]

Councilmember Johnson is not a bully!!!!!! Since taking office he has fought for the residents of his district. Everytime I have seen the councilmember he has been respectful to everyone. Frankly I think this blog is out to take down an intelligent, strong and energetic elected official. Talk about the issues to make Yonkers better not about the petty gossip.

[Re Run is done]

Are you serious?

He is a do nothing, agenda pushing pile of dog crap that dances to the Scarf's every whim!

Intelligent? I can have a better conversation with a tube sock.

You want to make Yonkers better? Then take your friend "Re-Run" back to wherever you both came from because it certainly was not Yonkers.

What a jerk off.

[Nice try Chuck]

Larkin a Dictator?

You are a Dick!

[Anon]

Malea

Watch a few council meetings on ch 12 and you will change your tune. Bashing him is not reflexive, it is based on an objective observation of reality.

[Onestlee]

Sandy Annabi gets 6 years in jail for betraying the public trust. Zehy Jeris gets on 4 years. Judge said the "lover defense" was insulting to the court.

I say "ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY"

[Chilicheesefritos]

This is yet another quality or lack thereof candidate elected by the dregs of the 1st district.

I also find the serving of chili and doritos quite amusing

[concerned citizen]

This is extremely sad! its amazing that we are so hypocritical. Politicians want to implement laws yet they look the other way when an elected official does not respect them or behave in a despicable manner. I am sorry to disagree with you, Councilmember Johnson IS A BULLY!! and he exhibits this behavior whenever he feels out of control. I truly feel sorry for him, he is very much aware of his lack of intelligence therefore, he compensates by degrading others.

I agree with Hezi, the Inspector General needs to conduct an investigation on Johnson's behavior. We do not accept this behavior from grade school kids; why are we accepting it from an elected official?

It is unfortunate that the Inspector General does not seem to want to address Councilmember Johnson's issues. She was quick to dismiss Nicole's case against Johnson. I thought the law was supposed to be blind?, apparently not in Yonkers!

[concerned citizen]

This is not gossip, this is a real problem for the city of Yonkers. But what can we expect, this BULLY didn't even live in Yonkers, he came from the BRONX. He came to Yonkers for his personal interest, not because Yonkers interested him!

[Tired of Yonkers Politics]

You are surprised? The first district of Yonkers has had over 20 years of unresponsive, unproductive misrepresentation with people who were only after their own agendas, and who did nothing for the residents of the 1st district.
12 years of Symra Brandon, who is in Chris’s corner and along with others, not only have stacked the deck in the 1st district to see that Chris Johnson won, but continue to do so to see that he gets re-elected. 8 years of Pat McDow who did nothing for her constituents and now someone who never even lived in Yonkers, but moved here from the Bronx just to get elected so that Andrea Stewart Cousins can pull her puppet’s strings. They supported, stacked the deck in favor of, and elected someone from the Bronx who has no passion and no connection to the people of Yonkers when they should have elected someone who lived in the community all their lives, like Mark Hynes. They only elect people who can be controlled.
If this were private industry and not government, Chris Johnson would be fired for harassment and bullying. Shame on the people in government for allowing this type of abuse to continue on the tax payer’s dollar. How many more people need to be assaulted by Chris Johnson before someone puts a stop to it?

[threesidesto truth]

Cant see this guy being a bully, unless he is using his power of office to conduct this bullying and if true should be terminated tomorrow.

[gg]

did this guy ever even move into yonkers? really? borna and raised in the bronx and elected to yonkers city council. cant make this stuff up!!!!

[Karen Edmonson]

So sad... We haven't had credible representation in the 1st District for years and when Mr. Johnson was elected, I kept an open mind. It has been one embarrassing gossip for fodder after another about our representatives for years of the 1st District. I cringed as I read posts and heard really gritty comments on the street about Mr. Johnson's predecessor's parking issues with her vehicle being illegally parked in a city parking facility, as well as other taudry allegations. I am embarrassed that we are scraping at the bottom of the barrel to find qualified, educated, compassionate, independent candidates to represent us in the 1st District. Elected officials are held to a higher standard and that should be obvious to Mr. Johnson and his associates. His former assistant, Nicole Benjamin struck me as a polished, sophisticated, soft-spoken, intelligent and a classy young lady. I am disturbed that Ms. Benjamin who I believe is also a law school graduate, felt compelled to file an EEO complaint against Councilman Johnson. These are serious and disturbing allegations! This article screams "I don't respect and like women" because the allegations of public humiliation of black women by Mr. Johnson is inexplicable. Maybe it is his low perception of black women in "certain positions"? I can't come up with a reason, except a little bit of so-called authority may have inflated his ego and that he is nice to voters outwardly like any politician, but mainly because he needs their votes for reelection? However he may view his staff as disposable :-(. How did her learn this behavior? Senator Cousins is always nice to her staff and people. I would have heard differently if this was not the case. Maybe she needs to sit him down and set him straight! One should always be extra nice to people who work for you from the mailroom to the doorman. If they make mistakes, it is YOUR job to mentor, train and give them opportunities to improve, not berate them in public. Maybe it is his youth and lack of exposure to the real world at this time? Maybe this is why he can't or won't work outside of the public sector? I never knew this side of Mr. Johnson and although it seems hard to believe, he should be warned that he is young and political life doesn't always last forever. Potential employers can do background checks and seeing an EEO complaint and allegations of abuse against women(pattern and practice) will not get him beyond the Assistant level in the real world. We all make mistakes and his real friends if they really care need not make excuses for him but help him. Speaking from experience, a little anger management counseling will most definitely help and should be recommended by the Inspector General.